Life, 1908-10-15 · page 10 of 28
Life — October 15, 1908 — page 10: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This cartoon depicts a social commentary on wealth and opportunity. The illustration shows what appears to be a wealthy figure (based on the fine clothing visible) speaking with a working-class man. The caption reads: "Now, suppose ye tell somethin' about the past. Jest so I can figger whether I'm gittin' the worth o' my money." The satire targets the gap between rich and poor in early 20th-century America. The wealthy person is questioning a laborer about his past, implying suspicion and class-based judgment. The accompanying article "Opportunities" by William Rockefeller discusses how young men face greater business challenges than previous generations, despite claims of expanded opportunity. The cartoon's title "Not So Easy" ironically undercuts Rockefeller's optimistic message about American economic mobility.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
408 Our Fresh Air Fund URING this last season that closed September 1st we have sent 1,003 children to our farm at Branchville, Conn., each child remaining there a fortnight. There has heen no sickness among the children, and no accidents, a fact in itself the highest possible tribute to the vigilance, the ability and the un. ceasing devotion of Mr, and Mrs. Mohr and their assistants. RECEIPTS Balance on hand at close of season 1907 “eee vase 2 $6208.30 Less Marion Storey Fund... + $000.09 $1298.30 2185136650 49. 289 contributions in Interest 1908. Interest on Marion Story Fund... EXPENSE ++ $1686.78 844.82 1697.38 38.10 415.06 Help ...- Transportation ..... Food and supplies. . Improvements and repairs Miscellaneous expenses. Balance on hand... Opportunities R. WILLIAM ROCKEFELLER has come to the front with a morsel of sageness in regard to opportunities for the young man nowadays as com- pared 10 opportunities in ages agone. He that opportunities are now greater than when he was a boy, but, in order to realize them, the young man “has got to work harder, to attend more strictly to business, and live cleaner.”” This fixes Mr. Rockefeller’s nationality: He is Irish, for this utterance is a typi cal Irish bull. What he says is that it is easier to get along if you work harder Well, now, really, Mr. R., is that the best you have in the advice shop? Fhe opportunity to get a corner on he anthracite deposits is somewhat more limited to-day than heretofore, about as limited as the opportunity to start from says New York with a wheelbarrow and com- pete 10 the Pacific Coast with a trans- continental railway Mr. Rockefeller “the chances for success in business are greater to-day even for the poor and friendless young man, than they were in my youth, for the very simple reason that there are more opportunities to-day.” Yes, indeed, that reason is very simple, almost idiotic. What is the between chances and oppor- If there is no difference what id, much less proved? He that there are more because there are says that ‘erence tunities? has he might as well opportt say es to-d: “sow, TELL SOMETHIN’ GITTIN’ THE WoRTH 0’ MY MONEY SUPPOSE. YE more men looking for them; that there are more poor men, because there are more chances to get rich; that there are more Pittsburg millionaires, because the young man had to work harder and live cleaner than when Mr. R. was a boy Forsooth, what are we coming to when this is the kind of wisdom that gets top column next to reading matter in our newspapers ? Ellis O. Jones NOT SO EASY ABOUT So She's An Heiress HEAR that Grimdleby marry a Miss Finem,’” says with the ingrowing mustache. Never heard of her. Is she wealthy? he'll come into no end of money some day,” the man with the incandescent whiskers. “Her father has heen a instice of the peace on an auto- mobile boulevard for at least five years.” is going to the man answers THE PAST, JEST SO 1 CAN FIGGER WHETHER I'S